Safety release mechanism for firearms



May 19, 1936 c. H. LEPP SAFETY RELEASE MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Filed March 25 1955 ATTORNEYS WITH EBB Patented May 19, 1936 NITED STATES OFFICE SAFETY RELEASE MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Application March 25, 1935, Serial No. 12,975

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a safety release mechanism for firearms, and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which may be readily adapted to a gun having a trigger latch to automatically release the trigger latch by the gun being brought into aiming positions against a persons shoulder and to apply the trigger latch for preventing accidental firing of the gun moving out of aiming position.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View showing a safety release mechanism applied to a gun and constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the stock of a gun positioned so that the safety latch will be prevented from moving into trigger releasing position by my invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the safety latch of the gun.

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the trigger.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral I indicates a fragmentary portion of a gun having a stock 2, a trigger 3 and the usual firing mechanism including a sear 4. The gun I also carries a slidable safety latch 5 which when moved in one position secures the trigger against operation and when in another position moves out of the path of the trigger so that when the latter is pulled the firing mechanism will be actuated. To prevent accidental actuation of the safety latch 5, a safety mechanism is adapted to the gun and which forms the subject matter of the present invention.

The end of the stock 2 has mounted thereto a shoulder piece 6 consisting of a face plate I engaging with an attaching plate 8 equipped with an integral cuff 9 fitting over a portion of the stock and capable of sliding relative. thereto. The plate 8 and cuff 9 is made from rubber or any other material suitable for the purpose and the plates 8 and I are detachably connected by screws I9 provided with comparatively long non-threaded portions I I which extend into ferrules or sleeves I2 embedded in the stock for the purpose.

'of guiding the sliding movement of the shoulder piece 6 on the stock. A wear plate I3 engages the inner face of the plate 8 and has threaded connection with the screws I0. A cushion block I4 is apertured to receive the non-screw threaded portions I I of the screws and is interposed between the end of the stock 2 and the wear plate I3. While the cushion block may be constructed of any suitable yieldable material, it is preferable that it be made from spongy rubber so that it will yield under pressure and expand when released. A slot I5 is formed in the cushion block I4 and one end thereof communicates with a chamber I6 formed in the end of the stock 2. Movably mounted in the slot I5 and capable of entering the recess I6 during certain positions of the gun is a ball I1. However, when the gun is positioned so that the ball I! is out of alignment with the chamber I6, it will be abutted by the wear plate I3 in the end of the stock to prevent sliding movement of the shoulder piece in the direction of the stock.

The stock 2 is drilled to receive a tube I8 extending from the shoulder piece to the portion of the gun in which the firing mechanism is located and. slidable in the tube is a strong flexible element I9, one end of which is suitably secured to the safety latch 5 and the other end extends through an opening in the wear plate I3 and is bent angularly and embedded in the plate 8, thereby firmly anchoring the element I9 to the shoulder piece for movement therewith. The movement of the shoulder piece in the direction of the stock causes a corresponding movement of the element I9 which slides the safety latch out of the path of the trigger. This movement of the shoulder piece is caused by bringing the gun tightly against the shoulder of a person in the act of aiming the gun at a target. The ball I! will enter the chamber I6 when the gun is in aiming position and permit the stated sliding movement of the shoulder piece. As soon as pressure is removed from the shoulder piece by taking the gun away from the persons shoulder, the cushion block l4 acts to restore the shoulder piece to its initial position. This last-named movement of the shoulder piece through the element I8 slides the safety latch 5 into the path of movement of the trigger and thereby effectively secures the trigger against actuation. It is preferable that a portion of the trigger 3 be built up as indicated at 29, to form a shoulder under which the beveled end 2! of the latch may pass to secure the trigger against actuation. The ball will remain in alignment with the chamber I6 in all aiming positions of the gun except that when the gun is moved into substantially a vertical position, as shown in Figure 2. 'In this position the ball is out of alignment with the chamber, consequently preventing movement of the shoulder piece in the direction of the stock. The position disclosed in Figure 2 may be considered a safety position for the gun wherein it is impossible to fire the .gun even though pressure should be placed on the shoulder piece. An inclined shoulder 22 is formed in the slot to aid in directing the ball away from the chamber l6 when the gun is placed in an upright position. The strength of the cushion block is sufficient to retain the shoulder piece in safety position with respect to the stock under ordinary handling or carrying of the gun and will require the bringing of the shoulder piece against a persons shoulder with considerable force to overcome the action of the cushion block in order to bring about positioning of the safety latch to free the trigger.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a gun having a stock provided with a chamber and a trigger equipped with a safety latch, an operating element slidable through the stock and secured to the latch, a shoulder piece slidably mounted to the stock and having the operating element secured thereto, a cushion block interposed between the stock and shoulder piece and having a slot communicative at one end with the chamber and a ball movable in the slot and capable of moving into and out of the chamber when said gun is held in firing position at a persons shoulder.

2. A safety release mechanism for a gun including a gun stock having a chamber and. a

safety latch, a shoulder piece flanged to slidably receive one end of the stock, a flexible element secured to the shoulder piece and to the safety latch for effecting movement of the latter by the movement of said shoulder piece, a cushion element between the stock and the shoulder piece and having a slot communicating with the chamber of the stock, and a ball operating in the slot and movable into and out of the chamber when 20 said gun is placed in firing position at a person's shoulder.

CHARLES HENRY LEPP. 

